Mafia's African Rose

Fractured Refuge

    "I hate my life," I muttered under my breath as I raced back to the maid quarters, my heart pounding in my chest. Bursting through the door, I found Glory sitting there, her expression shifting from calm to shock as she registered my frantic entry. It was as if she couldn't believe I was alive.

Without hesitation, she rushed toward me, enveloping me in a tight hug. I clung to her, sobbing uncontrollably, the weight of the day crashing down like an avalanche. "This is no joke, Glory! This life... it's suffocating! I won't be able to last long!" The words poured out in a desperate torrent, fueled by fear and hopelessness.

"I'm sorry, Angel," she murmured, tears glistening in her eyes as she joined me in my sorrow. "I'm so sorry."

We held each other tightly, and in that moment, it felt as though we were the only two souls in a world filled with darkness. But reality soon intruded, and I pulled away, wiping my tear-streaked face with the back of my hand. I could feel the tension in the air, the unspoken words hanging between us.

"Glory, I overheard them," I whispered, my voice trembling. "The other girls... they were talking about me."

Glory's face hardened. "What did they say?"

"They called me an attention seeker," I confessed, my voice barely audible. "They wondered how I was still alive."

"Those bitches," she spat, anger flashing in her eyes. "They don't know what we've been through. They think they're better than us just because they've been here longer."

I shook my head, feeling the weight of their words. "But what if they're right? What if I'm just making things worse for myself?"

Before Glory could respond, the door swung open, and in walked Samaya, the head maid. Her presence sent a chill down my spine, and I instinctively straightened up, hoping to hide my distress.

"Angel," she said, her voice dripping with disdain. "I heard what you did in the kitchen today. You think you can just speak to my chefs like that? You think you can get away with disrespecting them?"

I opened my mouth to defend myself, but no words came out. The memory of the chef's slap stung fresh in my mind.

"Speak!" she barked, her eyes narrowing at me.

"I... I didn't mean to," I stammered, the truth feeling weak and inadequate. "He was—"

"Enough!" she interrupted, raising a hand. "You need to learn your place. You don't get to speak back to those who are above you. You will be punished."

My heart raced, and I glanced at Glory, who was watching me with wide eyes, concern etched on her face.

"Samaya, please," Glory pleaded. "She's just trying to survive. We all are."

But Samaya was unmoved. "You think I care about your sob stories? You'll be punished, Angel, and don't think I'll go easy on you just because you're new. Maybe this will teach you to keep your mouth shut."

She signaled to two men who were loitering by the door, their expressions unreadable but dangerous. My stomach dropped as they approached me, and I felt a rush of panic.

"Wait, no! Please!" I cried, instinctively stepping back. "I didn't mean to disrespect anyone! I'm sorry!"

But my pleas fell on deaf ears. The men seized my arms, their grips tight and unyielding. I fought against them, but it was futile; they were too strong.

As they dragged me out of the room, I caught Glory's eye, and her face reflected my terror. I was being taken away, and I had no idea what awaited me.

The men led me to a dimly lit hallway, the air thick with an unsettling tension. I heard whispers from other maids, their voices laced with a mix of pity and contempt. I felt exposed and vulnerable, as if every flaw was on display for all to see.

"You'll regret talking back, you little whore," one of the men sneered, his breath hot against my ear. I shuddered at his words, memories flooding back of times I had felt so powerless.

In the back of my mind, I heard the whispers of the girls who had mocked me, their laughter echoing in my ears. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the impending dread of what was to come.

They brought me to a small room in the dungeons, and my heart sank. The walls were cold, and the air was damp, a stark reminder of the darkness that enveloped me. They pushed me inside, and I stumbled, falling to my knees on the hard floor.

The door slammed shut behind me, leaving me alone in the suffocating silence. I felt the tears spilling down my cheeks, my sobs echoing in the emptiness.

"Why is this happening to me?" I cried out, my voice hoarse. "I just want to go home!"

The memories flooded back—my life in Nigeria, the vibrant laughter of my family, and then the horror of that night when everything changed. The trauma clung to me like a heavy shroud, reminding me of the darkness I had barely escaped.

I curled up into a ball, pressing my forehead against my knees as fresh sobs wracked my body. "I can't do this again," I whispered, wishing for strength that seemed so far out of reach.

After what felt like an eternity, the door creaked open, and the men reappeared. "Time to learn your lesson," one of them said, his voice dripping with malice.

I flinched, my mind racing with the fear of what was about to happen. But deep down, I was grateful they didn't intend to rape me. I could still feel the weight of my past trauma, the memories threatening to suffocate me. I couldn't bear to relive that nightmare.

As they approached, I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the blows.

The first strike hit me hard, and I gasped, pain radiating through my body. Each hit felt like a reminder of my own fragility, a cruel lesson in the harsh reality I now faced. I didn't fight back; I couldn't.

With each blow, I thought of Nora, my only family, and how she was nowhere to be found. Had she also fallen victim to this twisted world? I wanted to scream for her, to call out and hope she would somehow hear me.

But all I could do was endure, the pain a reminder that I was still alive, even as I wished for escape. I was trapped in a nightmare, and with every passing second, I felt myself slipping further away from who I used to be.

When it was over, I lay there in the darkness, my body bruised and broken, but my spirit still flickering. I wouldn't give in to despair; I would fight for Nora, for myself.

I would survive this, no matter the cost.

Author's note: what do you think about the chapter? Let me know in the comments! ❤️